Post-discharge nutrition of preterm infants.

The ever-increasing survival of premature and extremely low birth weight infants has posed a great challenge to neonatologists and nutritionists. While nutrient requirements are still being defined, there is a great need to continue to improve our strategies for providing effective nutrition for these infants. Similarly, postdischarge nutritional issues need to be addressed since catch-up growth does not always occur. In addition to fetal origins of adult diseases, especially cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and obesity, new data are emerging that postnatal growth alterations also affect these same disorders. However, as we learn more about the latter issues, one needs to be cautious about abandoning our current practices in providing optimal nutrition.